Tag Archives: NPP

Could the German decision be helpful to promoting nuclear energy?
I’m beginning to see criticism mount. Wall Street Journal question of the dayComments: Germany-shutting-down-its-nuclear has a critics responding in numbers and Sweden criticized Germany’s decision.

Germany said it would close all of its 17 nuclear reactors by 2022, a sharp policy reversal that will make it the first major economy to quit atomic power in the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan. What do you think? Is the plan an over-reaction to recent events in Japan? Can nuclear energy be safe

The Federal Association for German Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie) (B.D.I.), sent a letter on Monday morning to the chancellery, warning her about the consequences for German business.
“How will the international competitiveness of German industry be guaranteed?” Hans-Peter Keitel, B.D.I.’s president, wrote. “Industry last year accounted for two-thirds of Germany’s economic upswing.”

Iran was not pleased with the decision either but why that is true is not clear.

==> I, too, am loving the discussion thread on the WSJ, but have to agree with William Icquatu — there are some really fervent (rabid?) anti-nuclear participants. This thread contains some of the finest, most persuaisve, pro-thorium comments I’ve seen anywhere.

However, I think it would be good to remember that DISCUSSIONS and DEBATES are FACT-based. Fling enough UNCERTAINTY and DOUBT into a debate and FACTS become OPINIONS. DEBATES become ARGUMENTS which are won by the loudest, most emotional, and most frequently shouted OPINIONS. Watch for the FACT=>FUD=>OPINION transitions in news coverage of controversial issues such as evolution, global warming and nuclear power. Seems like everything devolves into ARGUMENTS where no one wants to be confused with facts while they make up their minds.

There seems to be a strong lemming mind set in Germany. Hitler led millions over the cliff into WW II, now the “greens” are leading millions over the cliff into energy poverty. The Russian nickname for Germans, “Duybs”, translates into “oaken-headed”. Russian gas producers are about to become incredibly wealthy from the decisions of the “oaken-headed”.

One Nuclear Power Plant
produces 1000 megawatts per hour.You would need 60,000 acres and
2400 to 2800 wind turbines to equal 1,000 megawatts

You need 5,000 acres of solar panels to equal 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Those solar panels only work at peak power levels during the sunny times, so, on average, they only put out about 25% of their rated capacity. That means you really need 20,000 acres of solar panels to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity per hour, on average. 20,000 acres is 31.25 square miles.